2 MRT lines to hook up at exhibition hall station

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Two lines of the mass rapid transit (MRT) network in the Greater Taipei area are set to be connected at the Nangang Exhibition Hall Station before the arrival of the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year holidays in February at the earliest to provide more efficient service for passengers.

Commuters and passengers presently taking the Banqiao-Nangang line (aka Bannan line) can now reach the Nangang Station. But they have to switch to shuttle buses when going to the Nangang Exhibition Hall Station or to the Neihu District.

But the latest construction work extends the line eastward from the Nangang Station to the Nangang Exhibition Hall Station to hook up with the Wenshan-Neihu line (aka the Wenhu line).

The trains of the Wenshan-Neihu line will be at an elevated level while those running on the Banqiao-Nangang line will be at a lower level underground at the same station.

This will enable commuters of the two lines to change trains right inside the Nangang Exhibition Hall Station without having to get out of the station to take shuttle buses as is currently required.

The connection of the two MRT lines is projected to save commuters time and enable them to reach the Taipei Main Station from the Nangang and Donghu districts in only about 18 to 20 minutes.

Commuters in the areas have been eager to see the formal commencement of the transport connection as early as possible since they generally feel inconvenienced by the time wasted using the current system.

Accompanied by officials from the Department of Rapid Transit Systems under the Taipei City Government and Taipei Rapid Transit Corp., three groups of engineering and transport experts conducted an initial inspection concerning civil engineering, the electrical engineering system and transport operations.

The second and final phases of the inspection and test will be carried in coming weeks.

Commuters reaching or leaving the Nangang Exhibition Hall Station will be safer since the comparatively wider gap between the platform and trains is fixed.

The station has been very busy due to the large number of visitors to trade shows at the Nangang Exhibition Hall sponsored by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and other businesses and industry organizations.

The new trains will accommodate more passengers after the connection of the two MRT lines.

The current shuttle buses at the MRT stations will be suspended after the connection of the two MRT lines passes examination by the officials and experts, said city government officials.

Taipei City Government officials and transport specialists conduct a detailed inspection of the civil engineering work, electrical engineering system and transport service operations at the Nangang Exhibition Hall Station, yesterday. (CNA)